I used to be on the Parkinson's forum at BT1 a lot, now preoccupied with osteoarthritis in the left hip, left untreated too long, to be replaced in 3 more weeks--just so you have some idea--not the worst pain but down to the bare bone on both pelvis and femur, hardly enough pelvis left--you get it.

I can only offer a couple of spiritual things in addition to the excellent list above (and tell me about that ginger, too, please!). I assume everyone tries prayer if they're interested in it, including giving thanks for it because it helps us comfort others (you have to be majorly religious or nuts to get that far out, I guess).

I have read some Buddhist thinking by Pema Chodron, who teaches that we can fully experience the pain in order not to be afraid of it. I have tried this for short challenges like trying to get across a room, and have discovered that there is a finite limit to this particular pain I have, and so I don't fear it, and so it doesn't affect me as much (that's full of drugs, BTW).

I have just taken the first level course in Reiki healing for the purpose of easing my own pain. So far, in three days, it helps some, or at least restores some sanity.

Hope this helps, and thanks for being here.

Jaye

I have pain in my back and hip areas also. Mine is due to a combination of inflamation, muscle spasms, and a mysterious autoimmune problem that hasn't been named yet (the best they can tell me is that it is some sort of connective tissue disease).

I take meds, long-acting narcotics, short-acting narcotics, and daily low-dose prednisone for the inflamation because I can not take traditional anti-inflamatories like Advil, Aleve, and Celebrex. I also have Lidoderm patches.

The meds help to some degree, but not enough.

Some of the things I have found that does help my back and hip pain a lot is to always be aware of my posture, always be aware of how I am moving my body.... but the biggest help was making changes in how I sleep (body position, good pillows in the right places, memory foam mattress topper, a "comfort-u" body pillow).

If I sleep in a more comfortable position, I have fewer muscle spasms, and less inflamation - and less pain. When I first started experimenting with sleeping positions I kept finding positions that were body-comfortable, but that I had a hard time sleeping in because of a life-long habit of sleeping in bad positions. So, it did take some adjustment time to get in the habit of sleeping in positions that were better for my body -- but once I adjusted to the changes I felt so much better.

Hope that helps,
Liz

Sure, np. My story of using ginger the first time follows: On a flight to Boston some years ago, my pain med was ah-hem taken by the screener when my purse fell over on the belt... I didn't realize it had disappeared until I needed it at my brother's. SIL called her mom who said "ginger." The only ginger in the house was ground spice ginger, but she dumped a teaspoon of it into hot water and stirred. No, it doesn't dissolve well that way, but was enough for me to drink (like tea.) I hadn't even finished the cupful when the pain broke to manageable. The ginger held my pain at bay until I could replenish my prescription. (PS I no longer carry a purse! ) I do add ginger to any meal I can, also.

I've since found that many chronic pain patients chew on the root all day. Ginger in any form works, depending upon your pain (migraines too!) Gingerale, ginger snaps, ginger root etc. Good wishes! I hope something helps you too. TC. JD.

I think I keep trying things because what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Sometimes abdominal exercises help my back if I can do them. If I'm to flared I can't do them. He helps but so does ice.

I do take painkillers and muscle relaxers.

Sometimes the right better right chair to make a big difference. My back hurts really bad and the morning and went to set up its better, but it often wakes the up really early and keeps me from falling asleep so it's a problem, nevermind my worst pain is my legs keeping me from walking.

It's a struggle to find ways and not to aggravate the pain and I said to relieve it.

JD ~

Thank you so much for that tip about ginger! I have never tried it, but I'm going to! I hope it works even half as well for me as it did for you!

Love,
dadsgirl

I hope things get better for you soon. You will find a wealth of info here and some really great folks to boot!

I have hip and back problems too. Much like Wittsea. I have arthritis in my hip and spine and other things as well. My new doc put me on Celebrex, Flexeril, and Wellbutrin. Like you I am not a pill person. But I have to say after he crawled my @$$ about not taking my meds like I should I did it his way. I took them and boy did I feel so much better. I have since stopped them to see what the difference would be without them. Well looks like much as I hate it I am going to have to get with them again. The spasms get unbearable, my ankles, legs, and other areas are swelling again, my memory went to squash again too! So I guess he proved his point!!

But as said, things work different for different people. The miracle I guess comes for us all in being able to keep our sanity through it all. By the grace of God and my belief in prayer I have pulled through some rough spots. We all manage differently. The support and knowledge that we can come to places such as BT2 helps us to realize we are not alone in this. So keep coming back! We are all here to help one another along and it helps with the sanity as well!

Sheryl

Hi Sheryl,
I went to bed earily last night, so tired and worn out. I awoke at 2:10 am in bad pain that just won't let up. It's the left leg pain again. I wish I knew of a pain medicine that would releave me of some pain.My back feels like raw cutting pain this morning. I can't help but think some of this is arthritis type pain for I don't have it all the time. It has been rainy and damp and not much sun. My leg pain had let up and now for some reason it is back.

I was wondering if those pain patches would work on me.I can't take much in the way of pain meds. It seems all they give me is hydrocodone 10/650 or less. I have had other tablets, but I just itch and no pain relief.Perhaps more surgery is the answer to correct the problem but deep inside me, I don't think so. If only I knew the answer.I am getting surgery for the leg pain, but will that help, is the big question.
What are some of the reasons you all use pain patches anyway? Is there ever a time they don't work? I'm just looking for answers.
Blessings,
Billie

Thanks Sherloc and everyone!

I really enjoy reading how eveyone deals with this and all the suggestions! I'm doing a bit better... I'm not at the "ready to snap" stage anymore but still misserable... I know you all understand that.

Many thanks!

I want to let you know I haven't forgotten you. I think of you all the time and wonder how you handle so many things. You are such a strong willed woman. I so admire you.

Isn't the surgery tomorrow for the leg problem? I hope it helps. I know you just had surgery and are barely recovered from that before you go again. You are in my prayers sweet lady!

Spirit I am glad to hear you are feeling better. Thats why we are here. We all know what you are saying when it comes to pain.

Sheryl

Most of us are quite a bit of heavy-duty painkillers and muscle relaxers and have tried quite a few things. That doesn't mean that it has to get to that, as many people get fixed by physical therapy and this cortisone shot. Usually you try the least invasive techniques and move-up. Get to a good doctor and a good pain clinic as well

There are two components to pain management and the most important is the hunt for the cause and cure. In your case it sounds like there are two problems-autoimmune and spinal. Sometimes cortisone shots can help spinal pain and physical therapy and that's all you need. Sometimes it requires surgery and sometimes you never get rid of the pain completely. Autoimmune problems are complicated and there are all kinds of drugs with all kinds of side effects. Seeing a good rheumatologist and a good neurologist and orthopedic specialist might help.

The other component is managing the pain while you are searching for a cure and if you don't get one. Usually start with the least invasive techniques like physical therapy. Many people I fixed by physical therapy or may be a cortisone shot in the spine are a few. They are trigger shots acupuncture and other treatments. Many of us are on quite a bit of drugs and that can help you get through the process of trying physical therapy and other treatments and sometimes that's the only solution you get, so it ends up being a permanent answer. The types of drugs that many people are on includes long acting opiates, muscle relaxers, anti-seizure drugs (for nerve pain) and antidepressants (that can help with pain not just depression).

The long acting a short acting opiates do a lot to keep the pain under control. Of course, they do causes dependency and they do have side effects. If you can get by with liddoderm patches that's better. Special compounding pharmacist can put lidocaine and other drugs in topical ointments, so you can get to spots that the patches don't get to that well.

There are many autoimmune diseases and for some of the more serious diseases like Lupus or MS, there are some very heavy drugs that can stop the progression of the disease or help with the symptoms. They do tend to have side effects although they usually start with the ones with the least side effects.

It's a process of figuring out what works for you and that could include rest or exercise or specific exercise or a better pillow or better chair. Hopefully you'll get an answer but if you don't it's a lifelong process of, making the pain is bearable as possible and reducing it as much as possible so that, you have as much of a life as you can. It's about adapting and there is life after chronic pain, so hang in there and keep looking for answers.